TRANSACTIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
395 
leaves the sale of drugs, even of dangerously poisonous drugs, unrestricted. We 
are even told that the restriction with reference to the dispensing of prescriptions 
is not sufficiently stringent, and that the objects of the Bill may be evaded by 
keeping a sort of Medical Hall, and having a dispensary at the back, so that a pre¬ 
scription presented in the front shop may be translated there, and the translation 
taken to the back shop to be dispensed. It is assumed that this might be done by 
an unregistered dealer in drugs, without violating the proposed law, which we do 
not for one moment credit; but even supposing that it were so, is the practice of 
pharmacy so lucrative, or does it in any way present such powerful inducements 
to its pursuit, that men would be found resorting to a despicable subterfuge to 
enable them to enjoy the benefits which legally-qualified pharmaceutists have some 
difficulty in appreciating ? We do not even believe that the retail sale of drugs 
could be profitably conducted if separated from dispensing, unless it be under 
quite exceptional circumstances ; but it is deserving of consideration whether 
this part of the Bill might not be improved by restricting the sale of a limited 
number of dangerous medicines which are applied exclusively to therapeutical 
purposes to the class of qualified men who are entrusted with the dispensing of 
prescriptions. This and some other questions relating to the sale of poisons 
may be expected to be fully discussed before the Bill is passed, if not before its 
introduction into Parliament. It was important in framing the Bill and sub¬ 
mitting it in a tangible form to those who will be most immediately affected by 
it, and whose expressed opinions will have much weight with the Legislature, 
that it should contain as few debatable points as possible, and in this we think 
the Council have been eminently successful. If the body of chemists and drug¬ 
gists can agree, as we believe the majority do agree, to the provisions contained 
in this Bill, a great point in that respect is gained ; and we are sure the Council 
is open to any feasible propositions for improvement that can be shown to be 
equally popular with the trade at large, and not less likely to be sanctioned by 
the Legislature. 
TRANSACTIONS 
OF 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
AT A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, January Uli, 1865, 
Present—Messrs. Bird, Davenport, Deane, Haselden, Hills, Morson, Reynolds, Sand* 
ford, Savage, Squire, and Waugh. 
The following Pharmaceutical Chemists were elected 
MEMBERS. 
Birmingham . 
Bishopweannouth 
Bootle, near Liverpool 
Chester.. 
Gateacre, near Liverpool 
Glasgow . 
Hendon.. 
Hirwain . 
Howden . 
Huddersfield . 
London. 
?) . 
.* 
. 
Lucas, Joseph. 
Dobinson, William Lewis. 
Walker, Joseph. 
Grindley, William. 
Holgate, Walter. 
Taite, James. 
Goldfinch, George. 
Sims, Joseph. 
Saville, John. 
King, William. 
Davies, William. 
Hickey, Evan Lewis. 
Hickman, William. 
Jones, William. 
Preston, Richard. 
Rhind, William Waddell. 
2 f 2 
